Device for obtaining samples from well bores



Sept. 30, 1952 N. A. NELSON 2,612,346

l DEVICE FOR OBTAINING SAMPLES FROM WELL. BoREs Filed Jung 27, 1951 2 SHEETS-SHEET l \24 I FIG. INVENToR. Norman A. Nelson,

Sept. 30, 1952 N. A. Nl-:LsoN 2,612,346

DEVICE FOR OETAINING SAMPLES FROM WELL EoREs Filed June 27, 1951 l2.srrEET 's-sEEET 2 Patented Sept. 30, 1952 DEVICE FOR OBTAINING ASAMPLES-FROM WELL BORESA` Norman A-. Nelson, Houston, Tex., assignor, by mes'ne'assi'gnments, to Standard Oil Develop'-` mentC'ompanm'Elizabeth, N'.'J., a corporation of Delaware' Application June 27, 1951, Serial No. 233,773

S Claims: (C1. 255;-14)

.""Iih'e .present invention is directed to apparatus vfior obtaininga sampl'effromthe wall. ofl afwell bore. More particularly, the inventionl is directed 'to apparatusrfor. obtaininga core ore-a fluid' sample from thewa'llof. a wellbore.

The present invention-.maybe described-briefly asinvo'lvin'ga toolforobtaini-ng sampleslin a. well bore. wflriich"comprises, in combination, ahousing having a cage-therein .in which-Vis arranged Va I pressure responsive member adapted to be subjected to .iiuid pressurev *of` awell. bore when` the is lowered therein. Arranged in-.therhousing is 'at least a first piston in a horizontal piston cylindex-defined yby the housingwhich isvertically lspacedQf-rolr'r-'the cage; l An external shoe is atwith( the-pistons through' first and.v second pasfsagewaysdened by-thehousing. Thefirstand secondy pasageways have arranged. thereinr Yfirst and second releasable valve-.means which. are adapted, to I equalize pressure Tonl the pistons. Biasing; meansgfsuchv as compressiony `or tension springs. .are-'attached to each of the ypistons for retracting theV shoe vand the sample tube. vThe biasing means causes-retraction ofthe shoe-rand the sample` tubefwhenpressure is equalized' on eachsideofthe piston.

Ihe device of the present invention is adapted tofitake either a solidsa'mple such-'as arjcoreirom thefwallg ofI a lwell .bore xorris; adapted. ltoptake:V a tluid-- sample, jsuchf'a's foil' from` a producing formattionfrwhich the' welll bore traverses; V .Whenfthe apparatusv is employed .to obtain sa. core itfmay bei provided-withxascore cutterA head arranged von a sample tube.` n: the otherhand when. thefapparatus is-v employed4 Vfor'fobtainingsxa, fl-uid sample; I the sample tube may' be modiedz by providing .it withfaffseali'ng lip l'which' may be constructed ofav deformable material tovprovide a.- seal ywith theface ofV the formation' to prevent drilling-fluid from'.` contaminating 'i the fi'uid sample. When'i fluid: sample `is n obtained1 -fthe 'housing 'fwiiidenevax sample. chamber" 'w ch communicates :with the Lsam'pl'itube by' -meansoi aazpass'ag" 'ev/'ay manichini-arrangedavana-mem# ber which opens automatiallyon release'oftie sample tube and which closes automaticallyoi retraction of same into the housing;

The apparatus rwill be furthendes'cribed'by referring to the drawing in which Y Fig. 1 is a View of thelapparatus suspendedin a borehole showing theh'ousing positioned against the wall of the Well bore anda coring. tubeproa jected into the wall; v .v

Fig; .2 'is a sectional..view` of the apparatus of Fig. 1 with the shoe 'and the sampletubefin a retracted position;

Fig. 3T is a view taken along ofrgz'; l 4

Fig. 4 is a view of the apparatus in'ac'coldance with` the present invention lfor tak'ing'la'jliuid sample showing the apparatus positionedith the shoe in extended position and asample tube against the wall ofthe .Well bore adjacent 'a pro? ducing formation; .l

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the apparatus of `Fig.4; and l e F'ig.6 is a view of Fig. 4 taken alongthel-liies V. V Y Referring now to the drawing andparticularly to'Fi'g'. 1,` numeral II designates a Well'borewhich has been drilled in the earths surfacelto. traverse a producing formation` indicated generallylfasnfll The device ofthe present inventioni's'indicated generally as I3A andl includes a housing .'IBUWhich denes an open cage' I5 provided. with' windows I6; The housingv I4 has a shoe I'I attached thereto by attaching means I'Ia and isprovi'ded with a sampletube I8 which is shown projecting into producing formation I2. The tool I3 r-isy sll'l's'-- pended from the top of the borehole II bya'fsspension Ymeans IIa such as a wireline.-

Referring to Fig- 2, arranged in the cage I5Lfis a pressure responsive means vI9 which is la deformable bag member in which Yis arranged V.a hydraulic iiuid 2'0. The hydraulic Huid mayfsuit ably byany non-compressible fiuid,-such asfwater., a liquid hydrocarbon, and the like. Spac'ed4 vertically in the housing Ill from cage I5' are -rst and second pistons 2| and22 which are arranged respeotivelyin horizontal piston cylinders A23 .and 24 in housing/I4. A third piston 25"'is arranged in a third piston cylinder 26.' The lpressureresponsivemeans I9 communicatesiiuidly withthe pistons by -means of arstpassagewayV indicated generally as 2l and-a'secondpassageway-*indi* cated generallyA as 2li; It'will'be-noted;that"pas sagewa-y 21 is arranged .toiizsommuni'cateV nuldly with the: .right-hand side: of :pistons 121;"v and.: 22

, and withvth'e .lefthandi side-oir piston/251 :and

windows' 62. ered into a well bore II and arranged opposite a producing formation I2.

' able material.

that passageway 28 is arranged to communicate fluidly with the left-hand side of pistons 2I and 22 and the right-hand side of piston 25. Communicating with passageways 21 and 28 is a vertical passageway 29 which, in turn, communicates with a horizontal passageway 30. Passageways 21, 29 and 30 may be considered as another' passageway. Arranged in the passageway 30 are first and second valves 3l and 32. These valves are operated mechanically by tripping means 33 and 34. The tripping means 33 and 34 are attached through cables 39a and 34a to attaching means I3a which, in turn, is connected to the lower end of suspension means IIa. Tripping means 33 and 34 are held against upward movement'by shear pins 35 and 36 which are so arranged to be sheared at desired intervals. 1

The shoe I1 is connected to the attaching means I1a by means of threaded bolts 31 as shown. These bolts may be eliminated and the ShOeBtachedto the attaching means I1a by welding or other attaching means.

Arranged in the pistoncylinders 23 and 24 are biasing means 'such as compression springs 38 and 39 which serve to retract the shoe I6 when pressure is equalized on each side of the pistons 2| and 22. Similarly 'arranged in piston cylinder 26' is a biasing means such as a compression spring 46 which serves to retract the sample tube I8 on equalization of pressure on bothsides of the piston 25. The sample tube I8 isprovided with an enlarged expandable cutter head 4I which serves to cut the core from the side.of the well bore II as will be described in further detail hereinafter. l""Itwill be noted that the pistons 2I and 22 are 'provided' with sealing means 42 and 43, and that theJ attaching "means ,'I1'attached to pistons 2I `and 22 'are also suitably sealed by sealing means 44 and 45 Similarly piston member 25 is Valso providedwith a sealing means 46 and the sample tube I is also provided with sealing means 41 which Ycauses a seal as the sample tube is projected.

The vtripping means 33 and 34 are provided 'with pins 4 8 and 49 which are also provided with sealing 'm embers 50 and 5I.

` 'Referring now to Fig. 4, the apparatus in ac-v corda'nce with my invention when employed to take a liquid sample from the wall of a well bore 'may be indicated generally as 60 and denes with 'an upper end thereof a'cage 6I provided with The assembly 60 is shown as low- In this embodiment bf the invention the apparatus defines a housing 63 which may be lowered in the well bore II by means of a wire line 64 attached to an upper end of the housing 63 and extending to the earths surface to a suitable reeling device. The housing 63 is provided with a shoe 65 which is suitably-attached to the housing 63 by attaching means 66 as will be described further. In the apparatus of Fig. 4 the sample tube 61 is eX- tended out to the wall of the well bore II to obtain a fluid sample, the sample tube 61 being provided with a lip 68 constructed of a deform- 'Ihis lip may be a sealing means and-- can be constructed in a manner similar to the construction of a plumbers friend in the nature of a plunger and having -a suction cup on the end thereof.H The lower end of the housing y63 defines a section 69 in which is arranged a; chamber for the fluid sample and which will bedescribed inmore detail hereinafter.

Referring now to Fig. 5, it will be seen that a pressure responsive means 10 is arranged in the cage 6I and that the pressure responsive means f 10 is lled with a hydraulic fluid 1I which is similar to the hydraulic fluid 26 and may be water, a liquid hydrocarbon; 'andj'the like.

Spaced vertically frorn the 'cage'l 6I`is a first piston cylinder 12 defined by the housing 63 'I'he housing 63 defines a third piston cylinder 14. Arranged and a second piston cylinder 13.

v 61, the end of which is provided with sealing lip 68 of a deformable material, such as natural or synthetic rubber and the like. Arranged in the sampling tube61 is asample pipe 8I which communicates f luidlywitha lpassageway 82in the housing 63. Arranged in the passageway `82V is a valve member 84- which is operated by a piston 86. Piston'8r6is 'normally' -urged down; wardly by a biasingv means, such as a spring 81;' arranged in a cavity 88'in the housing 63.

The pistensis and 1s have attached thehete member 10 fluidly communicates lwiththe right?` hand side of pistons 15 and 1 6 through a 'passageway 92 whichv also -servest'o communicatewith the left-hand side oflpiston 11. V'Passageway9 3 on the other hand, communicatesvthe vhydraulic member 10 with the cavity 88 and thence'through conduit 94 with the left-hand side of-pistons-W'S and 15 and with the right-hand side of piston11'; The passageways 92 and 93 communicate with the bag member 16 by -meansfof a horizontal passageway 95'and a vertical passageway '96. It may be consideredv that the passageway defined by the passageways 92; 95 and 96 make up vone continuous passageway, while' the passageway/del lined-by passageway's 93, 94, 95 and 96 'make up another passageway. Y

Arranged in the passagewaye are first and second valve members 91v and 98. These valve members serve to opencommunication intopas-v sageways v92 and 93 as'will be described.""The valvemember 91 is arranged in a closed position by the dropping of a pin 99 into a slot |00 inthe xlfaive 91. The pin 99 is provided witha shoulder The'upper end of the .t'oo1'169 -defines a 'section |02 which forms .part ofithe lhousing63.- section I02 encloses the. pin 99 and also the'pin ID3 which ts into afslot, |84 inthe `Valve 98. A i

trigger mechanism |05 cooperates with the shoulder IUI and is biased ,downwardly thereagainst by means of. a biasing means or spring member H16 which, in turn, urges thev trigger member -I05 against the valve actuating'member' 1.01.* The pin ID3 is provided withfa-shoulder |98 -whichiis similar to the shoulder IIlI of pin '99.: This shoulder fits into aL slotfI09 of an annular `vcollar A'I I0 .of the valveactuating meansI 01. This collar'I I0 yis'heldin place by a shear pin I.I I.. l r It will benoted that the-passageway 92 als communicates fluidly withl a horizontalpassageway .fl I2 which directs hydraulic-fumarie the Similarly, piston 11 is a1s` masattachedto said pistons for retractng said` shoe and sample tube, second releasable valvev means arranged in a second passageway in said housing'iiuidly communicating said pressure responsive means with said pistonsv adapted to equalize pressure `on same whereby said biasing means will' cause retraction of said shoe and sample tube, and means for actuating said valves. 2. A tool for obtaining samples in a well bore which comprises, in combination, a housing de- -ning a cage, a deformable hydraulic bag member arranged in said cage adapted to be subjectedto iiuid pressure of the well bore when saidl tool is lowered therein, at least -a rst piston arranged in a horizontal piston cylinder kin said' housing vertically spaced from said cage, an .external shoe attached to said rst piston through an opening tc an exterior surface of said housing adapted to position said housing againsta wall of the well bore, Ia second piston arranged in a second horizontal piston cylinder in said housing spaced vertically from said cage, said second piston being provid-ed with a sample tube adapted to be projected through an opening in said housing to obtain a sample from the wall of the well bore, rst releasable valve means arranged in a first passageway defined.

by said housing uidly communicating said bag member with saidV pistons and adapted to extend said shoe and said sample tubev from said housing, biasing means attached to said pistons for retracting said shoeand sample tube, second releasable valve means arranged in a second passageway in said housing uidly communieating saidbag member with said pistons adapted 'to equalize vpressure -on same whereby said biasing means will cause retraction of said shoe and said sample tube, and means for actuating said valves.

3. A tool for obtaining samples in a well bore which comprises, in combination, -a housing defining arcage, a deformable hydraulic bag member arranged in said cage ladapted to be subjected to fluid pressure of the well bore when said tool is lowered therein, at least a first piston arranged in a horizontal piston cylinder in said housing vertically spaced from said cage, an external shoe attached to said rst piston through an opening to an exterior surface of said housing adapted to position said housing against a wall of the well bore, a second piston arranged in a second horizontal piston cylinder in said housing spaced vertically from said cage, said second piston being provi-ded with a sample tube provided with a cutter head adapted to be projected Athrough an opening in said housing to obtain a sample from the wall of the well bore,`

rst releasable valve means arranged in a first passageway in said housing fiuidly communicating said bag member with said pistons and adapt-ed to extend said shoe and said sample tube from said housing, biasing means attached to said pistons for retracting said shoe and sample tube, second releasable valve means arranged in a second lpassageway deined by sai-d housing fluidly communicating said bag member with said pistons adapted to equalize pressure on same whereby said biasing means will cause retraction of sai-d Vshoe and said sample tube, and means for actuating said valves.

` 4. A tool for obtaining samples in a well bore, which comprises, in combination, a housing deiining -a cage, a deformable hydraulic bag member arranged in said cage adapte-d to-be subjected -toV fluid pressure .of Ythe well L bore when said'tool is lowered therein,v at least a rst pisf: ton arranged Vin a horizontal-piston cylinder cle-y` formable sealing lip adapted to be 'projected' through an opening -in said housing to obtain ya sample from the wall of the lwell bore, aY

sample chamber dened by said housing spaced vertically from said pistons an-d said cage, a

first passageway infsaid housing communieat-- ing iiuidly said sample' chamber with said' sample tube, valve means in said rst passageway a-dapted to seal a Iiuid sample in said chamber, iirst vreleasable valve means arr-anged in a second passageway -deinedfby said-'housing' fluidly communicating sai-d bag member with said pistons and adapted to extend said shoe" and said sample tube from said housing, biasing means attached to said pistons for retracting said shoe and sample tube, second releas-vv able valve means arranged in a third passageway in said housing fluidly communicating said,`

bag member with said pistons adapted t0v equalize pressure on sam-e whereby said biasing means will cause retraction of said shoe and said sample tube, and means for suspending said tool inthev well bore and for actuating said valves.

A5. A tool for obtaining samples in a wellbore, which comprises, in combination, a housing defining a cage, a deformable hydraulic bag member arranged in said cage adapted to be subjectedy to fluid pressure of the well bore when said tool is lowered therein, at least a rst piston arranged inea horizontal piston cylinder in said housing vertically spaced from said cage, an external shoe attached to said irst piston through an openingr to an exterior surface of said housing adapted to position said housing against a wall of the well bore, a second piston arranged in a second horizontal piston cylinder in said housing spaced' vertically from said cage, said second piston being provided with a sample tube adapted tobe projected through an opening in said housing to obtain a sample from the wall of the well bore,v a sample chamber in said housing spaced vertically from said pistons and said cage, a iirst passageway in said housing communicating luidly said sample chamber with said sample tube, valve means in said rst passageway adapted 'to seal a iiuid sample in said chamber, rst releasable valve means arranged in a second passageway Ydeiined by said housing uidly communicating said bag member with said pistons and adapted to extendsaid shoe and said sample tube from said housing, biasing means attached to said pistons for retracting said shoe and sample tube, second releasable valve means arranged in a third passageway dened by said housing nuidly communicating said bag member with said pistons adaptedv to equalize pressurer on same whereby said biasing means will cause retraction of said shoe and said sample tube, and means for suspending said tool,

in the well bore and for actuating the valves.

6. A tool for obtaining samples in a well bore which comprises, in combination, a housing delining a cage, a pressure responsive member arranged in said cage adapted to be subjected' to' uid pressure-of the well-bore when said tool is' lowered therein, at least a iirst piston arranged ina horizontal piston cylinder in said housing vertically spaced from said cage, an external shoe attached to said rst piston through an opening to an exterior surface of said housing adapted to position said housing against a wall of the wel] bore, a second piston arranged in a second horizontal piston cylinder in said housing spaced vertically from said cage, said second-piston being provided with a sample tube adapted to be projected through an opening in said housing to obtain a sample from the wall of the well bore, first releasable valve means arranged in a rst passageway in said housing I'iuidly communicating said pressure responsive means with said pistons and adapted to extend said shoe and said sample tube from said housing, biasing means attached to said pistons for retracting said shoe and sample tube, second releasable valve means ar- `ranged in a second passageway in said housing uidly communicating said pressure responsive means with said pistons adapted to equalize pressure on same whereby said biasing means will cause retraction of said shoe and sample tube, and an actuating and suspending means attached to an upper end of said housing for lowering said tool in the well bore from the earths surface and for actuating and then retrieving same.

7. A tool for obtaining samples in a well bore which comprises, in combination, a housing dening a cage, a pressure responsive member arranged in said cage adapted to be subjected to fluid pressure of the well bore when said tool is lowered therein, at least a rst piston arranged in a horizontal piston cylinder in said housing vertically spaced from said cage, an external shoe attached to said first piston through an opening to an exterior surface of said housing adapted to position said housing against a Wall of the well bore, a second piston arranged in a second horizontal piston cylinder in said housing spaced vertically from said cage, said second piston being provided with a sample tube adapted to be projected through an opening in said housing to obtain a sample from the wall of the well boreflrst releasable valve means arranged in a rst passageway in said housing iluidly communicating said pressure responsive means with said pistons and adapted to extend said shoe and said sample tube from said housing, biasing means attached to said pistons for retracting said shoe and sample tube, second releasable valve means arranged in a second passageway in said housing fluidly communicating said pressure responsive means with said pistons adapted to equalize pressure on same whereby said biasing means will cause retractionof said shoe and sample tube, a wire line attached to -an upper end of said housing for lowering said tool in the well bore from the earths surface and for retrieving same, and an actuating means for said tool on said wireline.

8. A tool for obtaining samples in a well bore which comprises, in combination, a housing dening a cage, a pressure responsive member a1'- ranged in said cage adapted to be subjected to uid pressure of the well bore when said tool is lowered therein, at least a first piston arranged in a horizontal piston cylinder in said housing vertically spaced from said cage, an external shoe attached to said first piston through an opening to an exterior surface of said housing adapted to position said housing against a wall of the well bore, a second piston arranged in a second horizontal piston cylinder in said housing spaced vertically from said cage, said second piston being provided with a sample tube adapted to be projected through an opening in said housing to obtain a sample from the wall of the well bore, iirst valve means arranged in a rst passageway in said housing iiuidly communicating said pressure responsive means with said pistons and adapted to extend said shoe and said sample tube from said housing, biasing means attached to said pistons for retracting said shoe and sample tube, a second valve means arranged in a second passageway in said housing iiuidlyvcommunicating said pressure responsive means with said pistons adapted to equalize pressure on same whereby said biasing means will cause retraction of .said shoe and sample tube, tripping means for actuating each of said valves, and a wire line attached to an upper end of said housing operatively connected to said tripping means to open said valves and adapted to lower said tool in the weil bore from the earths surface and for retrieving same.

NORMAN A. NELSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthispatent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

